Packaging machine



Aug. 25, 1953 Filed Nov. 2, 1945 Q9@ kJa? Lza G. A. MOORE 2,650,010

PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet l O O l: o

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Aug. 25, 1953 G. A. MOORE PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 2, 1945 INVENTOR @mms 4a/,ve Tam lanes Y My@ W TORN .JN ALI i G. A. MOORE PACKAGING MACHINE Aug. 25, 1953 Filed Nov. 2, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 650955 APL/wren M0095 /A ATTO EY 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 2, `1945 Aug. 25, 1953 ca A. MOORE 2,650,010

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1945 Sheets-Sheet 6 ww R .m k N c 9.. o 9.

Aug'- 25, 1953 v G. A. MOORE 2,650,010

PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Ticll.

Filed NOV. -2, 1945 D x Tijl?. FJ-Ella. mi: G j

Aug. 25, 1953 Filed Nov. 2, 1945 0 20 4a 6o v ao /aa /za /40 da /aa 200 zza 24a 26a :sa 30o 320540360 G. A. MOORE 2,650,010

PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 lNvE-NTOR @sofas APU/verm M00@- Patented Aug. 25, 1953 PACKAGING MACHINE George Arlington Moore, New York, N. Y., as-

signor to National Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 2, 1945, Serial No. 626,283

9 Claims.

My invention relates to packaging machines and particularly to a machine for packaging biscuit or otherl fiat articles in trays or boxes such as shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,541,173, Package, which was issued February 13, 1951.

Automatic packaging of biscuit has long been sought and attempted but satisfactory results have not been attained heretofore, particularly with soda crackers and the like, principally because the packaging apparatus could not always measure off an exact volume or length of crackers for filling the cartons. Soda crackers are fragile and have very irregular and rough surfaces. The thickness of individual crackers from the same sheet or peel may vary from T3@ to inch. This makes it impossible always to fill a carton of definite length with a prescribed Weight or count of crackers unless some cartons are slack filled and others lled too snugly. For example, a soda cracker may be sold in packages holding approximately 4 oz. The package may be approximately 8 inches in length and hold a minimum of 18 crackers to make the desired weight. But because of irregularities in the thickness of the crackers, the number required to ll the package may vary from 18 to 21. This variation in thickness and count has made it impracticable heretofore to package soda crackers by automatic means. Also crackers fresh from the oven are very fragile articles and must be handled delicately or excessive breakage will result.

The embodiment of my invention that I have illustrated is adapted particularly for accurate packaging of soda crackers, without breakage or loss of crackers, yet always filling the cartons within allowable limits. It is, of course, admirably adapted for packaging other products that are of relatively uniform size and thickness and not so fragile, such as snaps, cookies, wafers and other articles.

Reference is now made to the drawings for a complete understanding of the invention.

Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation of the entire machine.

Figs. 2a, 2bA and 2c together form a front elevation of the entire machine.

Figs. 3a. and 3b together form a rear elevation of the machine.

Fig. 4a is a diagrammatic representation ofv the carton feed.

Fig. 4b is a diagrammatic representation of the cracker feed.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing how the flights enter or penetrate into the row of crackers to measure olf a length sufficient to fill a carton.

Fig. 6 shows how the loading plunger pushes each successive measured quantity of crackers into a carton.

Fig. 7 shows the cracker feeding index cam.

Fig. 8 shows the loading plunger operating cam.

Fig. 9 shows the cam for operating the carton flap spreaders.

Fig. 10 shows the cam for operating the carton locater.

Fig. 11 shows the carton bank stop cam.

Fig. l2 shows the index lock cam.

Fig. 13 shows the cam for operating the safety pad or pusher.

Fig. 14 shows the cracker elevator lifting cam.

Fig. 15 shows the cam for lifting the flights so that they enter into the row of crackers.

Fig. 16 shows the meter regulator cam.

Fig. 17 shows the cam that operates the presser for holding down the crackers on the metering belt.

Fig. 18 is a development of all the cams showing their order or sequence of operation.

I will first describe the operation of the machine Iby reference to the diagrams on Figs. 1, 4a and 4b.

Fig. 1 is a diagram, in front elevation, of the entire machine while Fig. 4a is a diagram in side elevation of the box or carton feed and Fig. 4b is a side elevation of the cracker feeding means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4a, the cartons are fed to the right hand or lower end of a continuously driven belt 20 passing around pulleys 2|, 22. This belt may be inclined as shown in Fig. 1 or horizontal as in Fig. 4a. The cartons preferably are open sided trays and are fed in a continuous stream or bank to the right hand end of the belt. At one point in their travel, the leading carton is engaged by a stop 23 which checks forward movement of all cartons behind it. At proper times, the stop 23 is raised to release the leading carton which is carried forward by the belt until it engages a second stop 24 which locates the carton in position to be filled with crackers. At this point, which may be called the loading station, a pair of spreader fingers 25, 26 spread the carton lips slightly outward and square up the carton so that the charge of crackers can be inserted. When the carton has been filled with crackers it is released by raising the stop 2A and then carried on by the belt to be discharged over the pulley 22 to a delivery chute or packing table for further operations. It will be noted that there is a gap between the leading carton that is held by the stop 23 and the carton at the filling station so that there is no pressure of the string of cartons on the belt against the carton that is being filled.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 4b, crackers are supplied in a continuous stream stacked on edge to the continuously driven conveyor 21. The crackers are fed from the conveyor 21 to two compensating belts 28, 29, which preferably have corrugated rubber surfaces to prevent slippage of the crackers and are driven intermittently at variable speeds to keep in balance a uniform flow from constant to intermittent supply. From the compensator belts, the crackers are fedto a metering belt Sil which likewise has a lcorrugated rubber surface and is driven intermittently at variable speeds. The metering belt 3E is driven from a pulley 3| keyed to a shaft carrying va grooved pulley 32. The pulley 32 is'driven by a belt 33 from the pulley 34 and the speedof the metering belt 35i is varied during each cycle by raising and lowering the regulator pulleys 35. The total distance that the metering belt 3e travels during each cycle determines the length of the stack of crackers that is intercepted between each pair of nights. This distance may be varied by adjustment of the relative sizes of the pulleys 32, 34, which preferably are adjustable V-groove pulleys. Thus to nll a box 8 inches long, the length of crackers supplied to the flights usually will be about 'T1/8 inches, but due to variations in the crackers, or changes in the variety to be packed, this length may vary between 'Y1/8 and 711% inches or more.

The pulley 34 is keyed to a Shaft carrying a sprocket 36 over which the flight carrying chain 31 runs and a pulley 38 over which the belt 39 runs. The chain 31 and belt 39 also pass over a sprocket 4G and a pulley 4|, respectively, nxed to a shaft that is driven intermittently by an index mechanism presently to be described. The chain 31 carries a number of nights 42 which are spaced the proper kdistance apart to intercept charges or measured amounts of crackers from the continuous stackl43 just sufficient to nll one of the cartons. These flights rise from the lower run of the chain 31 and enter between abutting crackers of the continuous stack adjacent an elevator 44 which is operated in proper timed relation with the metering belt 3U to 4loosen up or slack off the stack of crackers so that the flights can enter, as will be more fully described.

Referring now to Fig. 4b, the crackers 43 are fed continuously in stacked relation to the continuously driven belt 21. This belt delivers the crackers to the intermittently driven variable speed compensators 28, 2S, which carry the crack ers forward to the metering belt 30. The metering belt 30 delivers the crackers to the elevator 4d which is raised in proper timed relation to permit the nights 42 to enter between the crackers as best shown in Fig. l5.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, it is assumed that the boxes or trays are 8 inches in length and the distance between the nights 42 is equal to the length of the box. The metering belt 3G is regulated so as to deliver a stack of crackers slightly less than 8 inches in length between each pair of nights. The night carrying chain 31 and belt 39 Iare driven intermittently or with a step by step movement so that the nights and charges of crackers measured off between them travel step by step and are stationary when they come opposite the loading station where the cartons or trays are held by the stop 24 and the naps are spread open bythe spreader lingers 25, 2E. At this Vpoint a plunger 45 is operated to push the charge of crackers into an empty carton that is opposite it on the belt 2|) at the loading station. As the plunger 45 is withdrawn, the nights are moved forward another step to bring the next charge of crackers into loading position opposite the next carton which has been released by the stop 23 and carried forward to the stop 24 while t-he filled carton was being carried away by belt 20.

At the point where the nights enter between the crackers, I provided a soft pad or pusher 45 which'is'actuated in proper timed relation to gently push or pat back into line any cracker which may have been raised by entry of a night e; Themetering belt 3B is operated intermittently and starts up at relatively high speed. In or'derto prevent the metering belt from slipping under the crackers, I use a corrugated belt and also provide a soft presser 41 which is brought downY into engagement with the top of the stack of crackers just before the metering belt starts its forward movement so that there'is no slippage of the crackers with respect to the belt. The speed of the belt 3e is regulated so that it will deliver a sta-ck of crackers about 7% inches long to each pair of nights 42 which are spaced 8 inches apart. being able to enter between crackers in the stack and to intercept a sufficient amount to nll the cartons within allowable' limits. At the time' a night 42 is raised to enter between crackers, the metering regulator 35 is lowered so that the metering belt 30 is given a slight retrograde or backward movement which slacks off the crackers on the elevator 44 sothat if the night on rising comes beneath a cracker rather than between two, the cracker can fall either backward to the elevator or forward of the night depending upon whether its center of gravity is to the rear of or forward of the flight.

Referring now to Figs.-2a, 2b and 3a, 3b, all of the parts and mechanisms of the machine are driven from a single shaft 48 which is drivenv from the drive pulley 49 through gears 50. A clutch 5| actuated by a lever 52 may be interposed in the shaft drive. The shaft 43 extends the full length of the machine and at its forward end has a pair of bevel gears 53 driving av shaft 54fcarrying a sprocket that drives a chain 55 which in turn drives a shaft 58 to which the pulley 22 is secured for driving the carton carrying belt 20. Thus the belt 2t is driven continuously when the clutch 5| is engaged. n

The shaft 48 carries a number of cams 51, 58, 53, 60, 6|, 62, 63, 64, 65, 65, 61, which function` in proper timed relation to drive the several parts of the machine.

The cam 51 drives the index head (Fig. 3a) which is keyed to a shaft 63 to which the sprocket 49 and pulley 4| are secured for driving the night chain 31 and cracker carrying'belt 39. The chain 31 drives the sprocket 3% which is nxed to a shaft 1l) that extends across the machine and at its opposite end carries the grooved pulley 34 (Fig. 3b) over whichY the belt 33 runs to drive the grooved pulley 32 that is keyed to a shaft 1| to the opposite end of which the pulley 3| is secured for driving the metering belt. The shaft 1| has a sprocket 12 (Fig. 2b) for driving a chain 13 that passes over a sprocket 14 keyed to the shaft 15 of the rear pulley 16 o'f the metering belt. A second sprocket 11 (Fig. 3b) on the shaft 15 drives a chain 13 which in turn drives the shaft of the compensator belt 29. The Acompensator belt 2B is similarly driven by chain and This always insures the nights' Sprockets from one of the shafts of the compensator 29. It will thus bel seen that all of the parts for advancing the crackers from the time they are received from the conveyor 21 until they are in position to be pushed into the cartons are operated' from the index head 68.

The cam 51 (Figs. 3a and 7) has a groove 19 in which a roller rides that is secured to one end of a bell crank 80 pivotedon the frame of the machine, the other end ofthe lever being pivotally connected to a link 8|, the lower end of which is connected to the short arm 82 of a bell crank that is secured to a shaft mounted in a bearing 83 on the base of the machine. The arm 84 of this bell crank is connected at its upper end to a rack 85 which meshes with a pinion 86 that is loosely mounted on the shaft 69. The pinion 86 carries a spring pressed pawl 81 that is adapted to engage'one of three teeth or shoulders on the index head 68. A slide 88 for guiding the rack 85 is mounted to rock about the shaft 69 so that there is no binding between the rack and its cooperating gear. When the cam 51 rocks the arm 84 to the left as viewed in Fig. 3d, the pawl 81 will engage one of the teeth of the ratchet 68 and turn the shaft 69 so as to carry the flights 42 and the metering belt and compensators belts through one cycle of movement. When the arm 84 is rocked to the right (Fig. 3a) the pawl 81 rides loosely over the ratchet so that there is no movement of the parts. The stroke of the rack 85 and consequently the rotation of the gear 86 is a little greater than the distance that the pawl moves the ratchet forward on each stroke so that there is some lost motion at the beginning of the forward stroke. It is necessary that the pawl advance the ratchet and its connected parts an exact amount at each operation and leave the flights properly positioned before the plunger 45. In order to insure that all the parts will stop in the exact required positions, I provide an index lock which is best shown in Fig. 3b'. This lock comprises the disc 90, which is keyed to the shaft and has three tapered notches or tooth spaces, each of which is adapted to be engaged by a locking finger 9| that is pivoted on the frame of the machine and has a tapered nose or single tooth adapted to fit closely in one of the tapered notches to stop and lock the disc in exact position. 'Ihe finger 9| is pivoted to the frame of the machine and is pulled into engagement with one of the tooth spaces by a spring 92. It is retracted by the cam 62 (Figs. 3b and 12). A roller 93 on the lower end of an arm 94 rocks an arm 95 that is connected to a. link 96 through which the cam 62 pulls the finger out of the tapered notch at the proper time. The cam 62 is timed so as to release the finger 9| prior to the time that it enters one of the tooth spaces and the spring 92 holds the finger in engagement with the disc until a tooth space comes opposite the finger so that it can snap into position. The cams 51 and 52 are timed so that the finger 9| will snap into the lock and hold the parts at the instant that the rack 85 and index head 68 are at the ends of their forward or working strokes. This stops a pair of flights with a measured quantity of crackers directly in front of the carton that is held by the stop 24 and fingers 25, 26 on the belt 20 ready to receive the crackers.

As soon as the flights holding a, measured quantity of crackers stop in front of the empty carton, the pusher 45 is actuated by the cam 58Y to push the crackers into the carton and is then quickly withdrawn. As shown in Figs. 2m, 3a

and 8, the cam 58 has a race 91 in which a roller on the lower end of a pivoted arm 98 runs. The arm 98 is connected to a link 99 that extends from the rear to the front of the machine where it is connected to the lower end of a short arm |00 that is fixed to a short shaft |0| to which the lower end of a long arm |02 is fixed, the upper end of this arm being fixed to the shank |03 of the plunger 45, (Fig. 6). A link |04 parallel to the arm |02 is connected to the shaft |03 so as to impart a parallel motion to it.

I will describe the'functions and operation of each of the cams 53 to 61, in the order in which they are mounted on the shaft 48.

The cam 59, as shown in Figs. 2a, 3a and 9, operates the spreader fingers 25, 26. A lever |05 pivoted on the frame of the machine has a roller |06 at its lower end that rides on the cam 59. At its upper end the lever is connected to a link |01, the opposite end of which is connected to one arm of a bell crank |08 supported on the frame of the machine. The other end of the bell crank is connected to a link |09 which in turn is connected to a crank I0 secured to a shaft that is rotatably mounted in brackets ||2 adjacent the carton conveyor 20. The shaft has two bevel gears ||3, ||4 which mesh with gears ||5, ||6 on short transverse shafts to which the fingers 25, 26 are fixed.

The cam 60 operates the carton stop 24, Figs.4

2a, 3a. and 10. A lever ||1 pivoted to the framey of the machine carries a roller ||8 at its lower end that rides on the cam 60 and at its upper end is connected by a link I I9 to an arm |20 thatV is fixed to a short shaft |2| mounted in a bearing.

en the machine frame. At its opposite end, theA shaft |2| carries an arm |22 that actuates thestop 24.

The next cam 6| (Figs. 2b, 3b and 11) operates' the carton bank stop 23. A lever |23 pivotally supported on the frame carries a roller |24 at its lower end in contact with the cam 6|. At its. upper end the lever is connected to a link |25 which in turn is connected to one arm of a bell crank |26, the other ar-rn being connected to ay link |21 that is connected to a crank |28 fixedV to a short shaft |29 to which the stop 23 is at tached.

The next cam 62 actuates the index locking; finger 9| as previously described.

The cam 63 controls the pusher 46, Figs. 2b, 2b and 13. An arm |30 pivoted on the machine carries a roller |3| which is held in Contact with the cam 63 by a spring |32. A push rod |33 has a lost motion connection with a pivoted arm |34 which actuates the pusher pad 46. The rod |33 positively raises the pad 46 but when the roller |3| rides off from the dwell of the cam 63 the spring |32 pulls the'rod |33 and pad 48 down to the top level of the biscuit..

The cam 64 operates the elevator 44, Figs. 2b. 3b and 14. A bell crank |35 pivotally supported on the frame has a roller |36 engaging the cam 64 and has one arm connected to the lower end of a link |31, the upper end of which is connected to a crank |38 that is connected to a sleeve rotatably mounted on a short transverse shaft |39. This sleeve carries a cam |40 which engages a rollerr |4| on a lever |42 beneath the elevator 44 as best shown in Fig. 2b. The lever |42 at its free end has a roller |43 which rides on the under side of the elevator 44 to raise it. As best shown in Fig. 2b, the contour of the cam |40 is such that the. elevator starts. t0 rise very slowly S0 that there is no danger of throwing the crackersfrom the elevator' asit rises.

The can'its operates te lift theniguts- 4'2 at the point where theysuccessively'entebetween crackers the stack. bell crank' |44 has a follower |45 running' inla race cam' 65 'and is connected to a iim rat; tnefuppejrf'eriu o f'whin is connected to a crank |41 vsecured to; theshaft |33. The opposite end of theshaft |39 is`connested to an elevator arm |48V (Fig. 2b)A which is adaptedto enga'ge'and'lift the flights 42`when they are carried by meenam 311mb operative position beneath the stack of crackers.

The next cam E'joperates theineter regulator 35. A bell crank IE' hase. fc'nllower |50 operating in the race of the -earn 56 and is connectedto a 'link |5`i, the upper cnnectedt .a lever |52, one end of which ispivoted on the shaft n and' the free ejri'd o f' 'w1`1ieh cai-ries the two regulator pulleys 35. L'oliing at' the`- Fig.

3b, theiottiol Oi the Shffts"||!,` 'H is Clok'WiSe'. These shafts arel driven linterrnitte'ritly through the index head SYS. lock 9 1 is released. when the reguiator'puueys 35' are stationary, the met'eriiigbit sa warte driven at uniform spe-eu. When the cam 5 3 moves the regulator down, the metering belt first Stops and then slightly reverses'its'directiunL Ih'Fig. 3b of the drawings, the pulley 332` is driven*oulterclockwies by the belt 33 running over the drive'pulley 34. In this position theregulatbr 3'5, v'vliich consists of two idling pulleys carried bythe shiftable arm' |52', serves to take up the slack V'on the top run 'of the belt 33 so that the pulley 32will beV driven at con-- stant speed. At the instant thearm |52 com'- znences itsl rapid swing loweringithe pulleys 35 from their upper 'psitionth'e' upper run of the belt 33 becomes slack, and the driving traction of the Pulley 34 is used primarily for taking up the' slack in the'upper run of belt 33, thus effecting nopositive'drive o n the1-pul1ey'32.` Since the lvertical'rno i'lein'en't''of the rollers '35 is much `faster vthan the linear speed of the belt 33, at the same time that slackis `created in theY upper run of the belt its lower run is being" put underv tension by the lower roli'ery 35:* This tension, exerted in a `clockwise diectinonthe pulley 32,acts as a brake and rnr'rientarily stops the pulley'. As the .arm |52 continues to the end of its downward stroke and the regulatorV 35 tends to take up the slack created in the upper run in carrying the lower run of th'ebelt-in both directions, and the pulley 32,-which has'been stopped momentarily,

is now pulled for a short interval in'a clockwise or negative direction. At the instant the regulator 35 reaches its lower position and-allV the slack in both the upper and lower runs of belt :33 is completely taken up, pulley 32 is again momentarily stopped and then reversed to be driven again at constant speed in its original counterclockwise direction. When the regulator 35 is swung upward again, thepulley 32 will con tinue to rotate counterclockwise but will beacj celerated momentarily due to the upward thrust lon the upperrun of belt'33, which in taking up the slackcreated inthelower run increases the 'linear lspeec'i ofthe upper run ofthe belt 33iand, hence, accelerates tli"spee`d of rotation of the ulle'y 32'. When thesla'ck in the'bott'om run of 'belt 33 istakfen up, a momen'atry'ba'ck lash motion is' impartedto the pulley 32 in-` reducing it to its normal speed. This backward movement'c'auses a slacking off -oi loosening of the crackers on the elevator 44; This retrograde motion of the meteringbe'lt takefs'plae when the elevator-44 begins to Arise; so'th'at'atthetop of the rise the crackers are stacked-looselyA and tilted away from the edge oftheelevatoras shown in Fig 5. This loosening of 'the rackers at that time enables the nights 42 to enterv easily between the' crackers in the stack.

The cain 51 operates the presser 41. A bell cra-nk |753 has a roller' l54'ri'ding'on th Cain and is connected t`thel lower end of a link |55, the upper end of which connected'to the lower one oftfwo parallel |56. AThe arms |56 at one endare pivoted to the bracket |51'secured to the Aof the `machine andat the other end actu'- ate the'pre'sser 41"s'o 4'that the latter always re# mains in vertical'psition.

The operation of the'flightsv 42 in measuring ofi Vdefinite volumes` of crackers/from the continuous stack and carrying them vforward to the loading station isbefst shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 5.V Eachflight connected to the" free end of a flight arm |58, the other end ofY which is pivotallyconnected to the chain'31. Each flight arm at its free end adjacent the night has a lateral extensiorr|55which runs on a track so as to guide the flights as they are carried by the chain 31 around the sprockets 3 6; 4|'| .v Ihe nights i2 project upwardly and laterally from the arms so that they extend over thebelt 36 on theupper run of the chain. Each ofthe lateral extensions |53 has a flattened'end |56 which on the upper run o f the chain engages' in a slotted track |6l which holds the nights 42 in vertical position. The track |6| ends just beyond the station where the carton isnlled as v shown Fig 2 a. From that point onaround the sprocket 40 the nights 42 and arm |58 are free to pivot about their connection to the chain 31. However, a' curved guide or track |62' isprovidedto hold the night as passesl aroundthe sprocket. O n the lower run of the chain; the extensions |59 run on a horizontal track |63 until they approach the sprocket. At this point the track |63 curves down and around thev sprocket'36 as shown at |64 in Fig. 217:' As each ight'comes up and around the guide |64; the night lifting arm |48 is in its lowered positionand when the flight comes to rest at the end of'one' cycle of movement ofthe index head, the arm |48 will be brought up so as to engage the extension |59. In Fig. 2b 4the chain 31 isjatrestandfthe arm |48 has just raised a night 4'2up so vthatit has passed between biscuits inthestack that have been fed forward by the metering device. Ihe elevator 44 has been lowered and theparts are ready for the next cycle to carry the measured quantity of crackers between the nights on thru the next step. As soon astheV nights start forward, the arm |48'is lowered soas to be ready to receive and'raise the next night.` The arm |48, as shown in Fig. 2b, raises the flattened extensions |60 so that it is readyto-enter'and travel along the groove I6 Bridges |65,1|6i, |61 are provided to bridge the spaces between adjacent pulleys o f the several belts and atthe forward side of the metering belt pulley 3| there isja short; bridge |65 leading to the elevator 44; Beyond the elevator 44there is another bridge |69 along which the flights 42 and crackers travel to the upper run of the belt 39.

Itwill'benoted onreference to Figs. 3a, 3b, that not only are allof'thecams 51`to 61 mounted in alignment on a single shaft but all of the levers and arms'which are actuated in the first instance by thesecams have thesame axis and are supportedon a singlegshaft |10'that is fixed to the frame of theumachinel except for the single arm |53, the axis of which'is in alignment with the shaft |10. 'Ihis arrangementof cams and levers makes for accuracyv in timing; and Vease of construction. All functions of ,the'machine' are performed in proper sequence uponeach complete rotation of thecam shaft48. v

s Assuming that the index head .68. is stationary and that the rack 85 has juststarted its forward movement with the pawl 81 in engagement with a shoulder on the index head as shown in Fig. 3a, the index locksl iswithdrawnand the meter regulator 35' will be vin-lowered position. rI'he presser 41 will havebeen lowered into contact with the crackers over the metering belt, the pusher 46 will have been raised `and arf-light 42 will have been raised betweenthe crackers as shown in Fig. 2b. Also the elevator 44' has been lowered and the plunger 45,has been fully withdrawn. Now as soon as the rack 85 continues its working stroke, the index head 68 startsto turn and the parts operate or function in the following order. Simultaneously with the forward movement of the flights 42, the flight arm |48 starts its downward stroke and the carton stop 24 starts to move in to engage the carton which has just been released by the stopv23.' The carton flight spreaders 25, 25 then start to swing down so as to open the lips on theA carton ready to receive the crac-kers. By thistime a pair of flightsare almost in frontiof the loading station and the plunger 45 starts its vinward movement and the flight lifter arm I ,48 starts to lift the next flight. At substantially the samev time the index lock 9| starts in to engageV the lock so as lto stop a pair of nights and quantity of crackers in loading position. The meter regulator pulleys 35 now start their'downward stroke so as to. move the metering belt backwards to cause a slack in the stack of crackers as thecam starts to raise the elevator 44. With the index head now locked in position the flight arm |48 continues to lift the flight and the crac-ker inserting plunger starts to withdraw. The flightv and lifting arm |48 are now fully raised and the pad 46 starts to descend to press back any crackers that may have been raised by upward movement of the flight. Thecarton bankl stop 23 now starts to withdraw so that an empty"'carton can be fed forward. The carton flap spreader fingers are now fully raised and the stop 24 withdrawn so that the filled carton is carried forwardbythe carton carrying belt 20. i.

Next the metering Ibelt regulator starts its upward strokeand the cani |40 lowers the elevator 44. The presser pad 41 vthen starts to lower so that it will be in engagement vwith the crackers by the end of the' cycle. y'I'he presser pad 46 raises and the stop'23 engagesthe next carton in the spring on the belt '20. All-these functions occur through one complete rotation 4of the cam shaft 48 'and the parts are `nowba'ck in position with the pawl 81 Vin engagement with the next shoulder on the index head ready tostart another cycle. A l Y Fig. 18 is a -chart representing" all of the cams 51 to 61 in the order and relationship in which they are secured to the shaft 48. The numbers of the cams are at the left of the several developments and the numbers at the right indicate the ultimate part that is actuated lby each cam. The vertical lines indicate thedegrees ofthe circle through which eachcam rotates 'and their intersections with the rises 'and dwells `of the several cam developments indicate the points in the cycle where each cam starts and ends its function.l

In the diagraxncf Fig. 1, have shown the tray carrying belt 20, the flight carrying chain 31'and belt 39 inclined upward toward their delivery ends. However, these usually will be -horizontal, but in some cases I prefer the upward slope as shown, because of the backward inclination that it gives to the crackers at the point where the flightsenter.

In operation ofthe machine, the articles to be packed, such as crackers, are supplied in a continuous stack or bank to the continuously running conveyor 21. This conveyor delivers the crackers stacked on edge to the first compensator 28, which in turn delivers to the second compensator 29. The speed of the conveyor 21 is such as to assure a continuous and adequate supply of crackers to the machine.

The compensator 29 delivers to the metering belt 38, which is driven at such a speed as to deliver approximately '1% inches of crackers to the flights 42 for each cycle of operation. The metering belt is driven intermittently at variable speeds through the pulley 3| and regulator 35. When the regulator 35 is moved up, the speed of the metering belt exceeds its normal or average speed and when the regulator is moved down the belt 33 is taken up so rapidly on its lower run that the pulley 3| is turned slightly backward. This takes place just at the time that the elevator 44 is raised and one of the flights 42 is entering between crackers in the stack just ahead of the forward end of the elevator 44. At this time elevator 44 is raised, as shown in Fig. 5, and the inclination of the elevator and back-Ward movement'of the metering belt 30 cause the crackers to tilt toward the rear and be held stationary on the elevator during the time that the flight 42 is rising. When the flight 42 has fully entered between the crackers, the pusher 45 is lowered so as to press back into line any crackers that may have lbeen raised -by upward movement of the flight.

The ights with measured quantities of crackers intercepted between each two then move forward with a step by step motion until two of the flights come directly opposite an empty carton or tray which is held open on the belt 2!) by the spreader fingers 25 and 26. The pusher 45 then moves inward and pushes this measured quantity of -crackers into the box. The box is then released by the stop 24 and is carried forward by the belt 20 over the pulley 22 and slides down a chute to the packing table or wrapping machine.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is designed particularly for filling cartons such as shown in my Patent No. 2,541,173. These cartons' asshown in Figs. 4a, and 6, comprise open sided trays, |10, Awhich have outwardly extending lips |1, |12, at each end of the open side. When a tray is positioned at the loading station -by the stop 24, the spreader fingers 215 and 26 square up the traysan-d bend the lips I1|, |12 slightly outward so that the charge of crackers 43, held between the flights can be pushed into the carton by the pusher head 45.

Instead of the belt 39, which carries the charges of crackers along in cooperation with the ights 42, other suitable means may be used.

An important feature of my invention resides in the continuously driven belt 21, the compensator 28, 29 and metering belt 3U, which cooperate to convey the bank of -crackers to the flights 42 and kchange their continuous motion on belt 21 to controlled intermittent motion whereby eachspace between flights is-iilledwith-a predetermined denitevolume of crackersor-other articles suicient tofnll one box or tray. *Each of the ,compensator belts 28, 29-isdriven intermittently and at variable speeds, the average linear speed of belt 2S being slightly greater than belt 2 and that of belt -29 exceeding belt 28. Thus the crackers are somewhat looser in the stack on belts 28, '29 than they areon vbelt 21. When the metering belt Sil is moving forward at its maximum speed, which follows the lowering of elevator M, there is a tendency toppen up a gap in the line of crackers being fedto it. Except for the compensators, the gap could open 'wide enough to permit the crackers to fall over so far that they could not be righted by pressure of the on-coming column of crackers fed by belt 2l. When belt 3,@ is moving forward at its maximum speed, there usually will be a loosening up ofcrackers on the compensators as indicated at 11,3, I'M,Fig. 4b.

While I have lshown the crackers 43 stacked on edge in a continuous bank, in some types of packages the crackers ywill be carried in stacks three or four highon the belt 2l, or of whatever height is necessary `to ll a carton and then the flights 42 will intercept or measure off a sulicient number of these vertical stacks to-make up the length of the inside of the carton.

My invention is capable of many other modications and adaptations, all of which I claim that may come within the scope or terms of my claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire tor secure by Letters `Patent is:

l In a packaging machine, the combination of a conveyor for carrying forward a continuous bank of articles stacked on edge, an Yendless chain having upper and lower runs, spaced flights on said chain, means cooperating with said flights as they rise from the lower to the upper run of the chain to-enter them between articles in said bank and fill the spaces between adjacent flights with measured quantities of the articles, means for causing periodic backward movement of the articles in the bank at the pointwhere each flight rises whereby the articlessare loosely stacked to permit entry of the'flight, a second conveyor for carrying open'faced boxes'forward parallel to said nights on their-upper run; means for positioningr the boxesopposite thelled spaces between the nights, and `means :for i transferring the measured quantities of articles fromibetween theffiights into the `boxes Yon'the second'conveyor.

2. In a packaging machine, the combinationof a continuously driven belt-adapted ,tocarrya continuous line of open faced cartonshaving. outwardly extending lips at each end of their open facesytwo'stops spaced apart a distance slightly greater'than the lengthof Va carton, meansifor moving said stops into and outof the path V,of the cartons on vthe belt whereby the Aiirst stop will hold the line of cartonsout. of contact with a carton held by the second stop, and apair of spreaderngers adapted to engage and hold the lips outward on the carton that is stopped by the said second. stop.

3. In a packaging machine, the combination of a meteringrdevice, means for supplying articles ina continuous bank to one side thereof, means for operating themetering device intermittently to advance the articles therethru, an-elevator adapted to receive the articles from the metering device, an endless carrier having upper-and lf2 lower runs withitspuppergrun adjacent to said elevator, spacedfflightsrmounted on said endless carrier and Aadapted to `enter between articles inthebank as `they -4rise-"from their lower to theirupper run adjacent '-to'the "elevator, and .means forr'raisingtherelevator while each flight 'enters between articles.

4. In apackaging machine, the combination of aimeteringedeviceymeans for supplying articles in; a continuous-bank to Vone side thereof, means for operating-the-^metering device intermittently to advance Ythe'articles therethru, an elevator adapted-'to `receive the-articles from the metering device, `an-'endlessfcarrier having up- `pera-nd lower -runsvwith its upper run adjacent -to-:said elevator, spaced flightsmounted on said endless;carrierand-adaptedto enter between ar- -ticles in the bank-asthey rise 'from their lower ^totheir uppery run-adjacent to the elevator, and meansfor raising-the elevator and causing backward movement-of #the metering device while eachflightv enters betweenarticles.

v'-5. a packaging lmachine, a continuously -driven belt adapted to-carry articles in a continuous-bank,an intermittently operated metering-'device adapted-'tov-receive the articles carried -by said=belt yand carrythem-on in the same direction, and compensating means comprising a variable speed conveyor unit between the metering device -and belt forcreating sla-ckness in said bank of articles xwhen said metering device is carrying articles forward'and-for taking up the slack when Asaid-metering.''device is not carrying articles forward.

f6. In a packaging -machine, a Acontinuously drivenbelt adaptedto carry articles in a continuous bank, :a metering4 device adapted to receive-and regulatefthe-rate of iiow of articles from the belt,l meansifor periodically driving said metering device r'faster and f rearward and holdingitstationary withrespect to said belt, and compensatingfmeansfcomprising a variable speed conveyor unitbetween-theimeter and belt for feeding varticles :to :the :metering 4device faster thanfthey.are'supplied 'by 'the 'belt when the Ametering device isidriven1atitsfaster speed, said compensating,fmeanstakingfup the excess supply of -articles lfrom theibeltwwhen said meteringiieviceis drivenbackward or is stationary.

.7. 'In `4a packaging `machina a lcontinuously driven belt carrying a continuousbank of articles :stacked lvon fedge, .azmetering device including azshiftable belt tighteneritowhich the belt delivers `"the fstacked farticles for regulating .therrate :at which fthe @articles are delivered, an endless chain-having upper. and lower-runs .with its upper ,-run in alignment with said :metering devicegspaced flights ',on; said chain adapted as they pass :from :the :lower lto the vupper :run to enter 'between the -1 stacked sarticles fdelivered by .the metering device rand measure :off dennite quantities -pf .articles therefrom, land-means including an elevator platform hinged at its ,fentrant fiend fior einterrupting the -^fiow Aof farticles throughthefmetering device=when;a flight isentering :between articles.

v8. :In apackaging :ma-chine, the combination of -a ,continuously :driven belt :carrying a continuous bank :of y-articlesin f. continuous l motion, a series of intermittently Vdri-ven ispaced flights beyond-'said Ibelt rvadapted to l enter .between articles in said bank and lmeasure-z olf f. definite Y quantities thereof betwieen ,the flights, :and fmeans between the belt and :flights including an ,elevator .platformighingedrat,4 tSentrant end torchangeithe .mo-

tion of the bank of articles from continuous to intermittent.

9. In a packaging machine, the combination o a continuously driven conveyor continuously carrying forward a continuous bank of articles, an endless chain having upper and lower runs, spaced flights on said chain travelling on the upper run in alignment with said conveyor and spaced therefrom, means for carrying the continuous bank of articles from the conveyor to the chain, said flights as they rise from their lower to their upper run being arranged and operated to enter between articles in said bank and ll the spa-ces between adjacent flights with measured quantities of the articles and means including an elevator platform hinged at its entrant end for slacking off the continuously carried articles in the bank at the point Where the ights enter.

GEORGE ARLINGTON MOORE.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Vaughn Dec. 11, 1911 Molins June 20, 1916 Phillips Feb. 17, 1920 Anderson July 13, 1926 Ginter May 17, 1927 Mullendore Sept. 20, 1927 McDavitt July 10, 1928 Milimore Oct. 8, 1935 Benoit et al Feb. 16, 1937 Ness Apr. 4, 1939 Perry Jan. 11, 1944 Fedorchak et al. Feb. 15, 1944 Rhodes et al June 5, 1951 

